Mike Mignola, Chris Roberson, Ben Stenbeck ‘Witchfinder: City of the Dead #1’ Review

I’m embarrassed to admit that I’ve never read much of Dark Horse’s Witchfinder book. One trip through Witchfinder: City of the Dead #1 and I’m really kicking myself for not investing a bit more in the insanely awesome character, Sir Edward Grey. The guy’s a boss, no two ways about it. He knows the mystical and he knows the macabre. Even better yet, he’s more than game to stand his ground and test his mettle against members of the undead.

And that’s precisely what he’s forced to do after he’s summoned to investigate a strange case centered on grave robbers and the walking dead. Grey is initially a little hesitant to pursue the call, predetermining the cause of trouble to be nothing too atypical, therefore nothing that need take up any of his sparse time. But Grey quickly learns that this case is exactly the kind of case he’s dedicated his life to investigating and solving, and thus, a new adventure is underway.

Mike Mignola and Chris Roberson deliver a swift introduction that allows first-time readers a chance to learn of who this Witchfinder is, while sparing us any lengthy origin recital. We open the book, and we’re thrust into a different era where things do indeed go bump in the night, and intelligent, gifted men of power pursue these dark forces. We’re just off and running and I love that. Not a single word, let alone a page, is wasted on the unnecessary.

I shouldn’t need to praise Ben Stenbeck excessively, as, if you’re a Dark Horse reader, you certainly know his beautiful style. As smooth with a pencil as we’ve ever seen, Stenbeck brings the aura of a good Hellboy book to the pages of something related but ultimately very unique. Mignola+Stenbeck=Success.

It’s time I begin looking into some previous Witchfinder titles. This is quite clearly a superb Hellboy spinoff and I’m only hurting myself by not catching up on something special. As is often the case, I extend kudos to the entire gang. This one feels special.

Look into snagging the first issue right here.

Rating: 5/5